The value of Marin County’s agricultural production keeps falling, but county leaders say there’s still cause for celebration.
The county’s agricultural production was valued at $83.8 million for 2024, a 2% decrease from the 2023 value, according to the annual report on crops and livestock that was presented to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The decline is the fourth in a row since 2020, but also the lowest annual decline in that time.
The value dropped by 9% in 2023, 3% in 2022 and 5% in 2021, according to previous county reports.
Still, even with the persistent decline, agriculture in the county generated $257.2 million in the local economy and supported 1,081 jobs in 2023, a new economic analysis by Agricultural Impact Associates, a consulting firm, showed in a separate report.
“Every dollar of agricultural output creates economic ripples throughout the Marin County economy,” Fernando DePaolis, a consultant with the firm and co-author of the inaugural analysis and report, told the supervisors at the meeting.
Counting their chickens
The leaders behind the economic contributions in 2024 are poultry — the county’s top commodity despite an 11% annual decrease in value — at $21.947 million, followed by organic milk at $21.638 million, and cattle at $16.1 million.
The value of field crops, including hay and silage, makes up 12% of the county’s total agricultural production value, and rose by 7% to $10.33 million, the report said. The value of wine grapes also increased, going up 6% to $978,000.
“Every dollar of agricultural output creates economic ripples throughout the Marin County economy.” Fernando DePaolis, Agricultural Impact Associates
A notable decrease in value came from fruits, vegetables and nursery crops, which include cut flowers, that dropped by 17%. The decrease was “largely due to changes in business practices,” but there is also steady activity among small and medium producers, Allison Klein, an inspector with the county’s Department of Agricultural/Weights and Measures, said at the meeting.
In addition to the annual report, the county also launched a “Marin Farm Fresh” map that points to farmstands, farmers markets and direct-sale locations. The county website now also features a page that hosts more information on the annual crop and livestock report.